Cord clamp



Aug. 7, 1928. 1,679,723l

H. HUBBELL.

CORD CLAMP A Filed May 18, 1925 Patented Ang. 7', 19,28.

'-uNrrlsli4 STATES :HARVEY HUBBELL, oF Barnenronr, coiiwnctrrcur; LoUInE.` HUBBELL or sm HARVEY nunnnnnpncnasnn.

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This invention relates to electrical devices which are .connected to,flexible electrlcal L cords or cables, such forinstance as are used inoperatingportable electrical devices, and has for an object to provide astructure for securing the device to thev vcord or cable which will takethe strain of any pull on the cord off the connections to the bindingposts, so as to prevent breaking ofthese Aconnections by the strain andalso to prevent the leads from breaking loose.

With the foregoing and other obJects 1n View, I have devised'theconstructionf'illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a art ofthis specication, similar reference c aracters being employed throughoutthe various figures to indicate corresponding elements.v In thisdrawing,

Fig.` 1 is a top lan view showing my inm vention as applie to a plugcap. v

Fig.`2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3ds a section through the cap' butshowmg the clamp and cord inelevation.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the clamp and body of the cap looking fromthe right of Fig. 2,- but showing the shell or casing in section.' l yFig. 5 is a top plan view of the clamp removed.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof, and

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the cap on a somewhat smaller scale.

Although I have shown my improved clamp as applied to a plug cap itwill, of course, beobviousthat it is not limited to use 4 therewith, butmay be employed with other electrical devices which are connected to aconducting cable or cord in substantially the Same manner. In theconstruction shown `the cap comprises an insulating body member 10carrying on the lower sidethereof blade contacts 1l connected withbinding posts yhaving binding screws 12 for conneci tion of the leadwires 13 in the usual manner. This member is provided with an opening 14for passage of these leads to the'binding posts,` and on the oppositeside from these binding posts is provided with a pair of alignedrecesses 15 placed on opposite sides of the opening 14 to receive thefeet 16 of the clamping elements 17. These clamping .tion shown, haveclamping applicano; and my 1s, i925. serial No. 30,997.

elements form the clamp for securinglithe device to the cord or cable 18of whic the leads 13 are a part.V The cable shown is of a relatlvelyheavy construction having a relatively heavy rubber insulation 19, and.1s used for. conducting current to portable motors and .the like.

Where the only connection between such a cable and the cap is theconnection between the leads and the binding posts, it will bealppa'rent that all strains from the cable to v t 1 e cap, for example,pulling the cap from the receptacle, is borneby theselconnections, whichsoon breaks the connections, between them to worklloose. To remove thisobjection I'have provided a simple and effective clamping meansconnected to the cap which nay be clampedkabout the cord to take this sram.

the leads and the binding posts or causes As indicated above, this clampcomprises i the two elements 17, which, in the construcportions 20preferably curved to engage the curved walls of the cable, and they havefeet 16 projecting at substantially right angles to these clamplngportions. These feet are seated in the recesses 15 in the end of thebody member 10 and are adapted to slide in andv out Iin these recessesto allow for movement of the clamping elements as they are clamped aboutthe cord or loosened therefrom. These feet are retained in the recessesby the end wall 21 of a metal shell or casing 22, which.

inthe present construction encloses the body member 10. It will beapparent from 3 that the feet 16 are located between the end wall 21 andthe bottom of the recesses and are,.therefore, held against separationfrom the cap by this shell or casing, but are allowed to move toward andfrom the cable in tightening'and loosening the clamping screws. Aconvenient means of securing thls .shell to the body member is to bendover its free end 23 ovei` theopposite end of the body member, as shownin Figs. 3 and 4. This shell also provides a protective armor for thebody of the cap to protect it against screws 25, each of which hasthreaded engagelnent with one of these ear's. It Will be apparent thatafter the connection of the leads 123 are made to the binding posts tl`e clamping elements 17 may be securely clamped about the cord or cableby tlghtening upon the screws, the proper .movement. being secured bythe feet 16 sliding 1n the recesses 15. This clamp Will provide a verytight grip on the cable, eifectively taking all strain or pull on thecable and preventing it from reaching the connection between the leadsand the binding posts, so that there is no chance of this strainbreaking the connections or working them loose. To facilitate theinsertion of the cable between the clamping elements the upper ends otlthe clamping portion 20. are flared outwardly somewhat, as indicated at26. vIt will be obvious that the clamp may be as easily released fordisconnecting the cap or any other similarly connected electrical devicefrom the cable by merely loosening the screws 25. It will also beapparent that the clamp is very simple in construction and is not liableto be easily gotten out of order.

I-Iaving thus set forth the nature ot' my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a device of the character described, an insulating body memberhaving an opening, binding posts mounted on one side of said member,said member being provided with aligned recesses on the opposite side. apair of clamping members having laterally extending feet slidable insaid recesses, means for securing the feet to the body member, aninsulated cord between the clamping members and having lead wiresextentfling through said opening to the binding posts, and means forclamping the clamping members on the cord to secure the body memberthereto.

2. In a device of the character described, an insulating body member,binding posts carried thereby, said body being provided with an openingleading to the binding posts and aligned recesses on opposite sides otthe opening, a pair of clamping elements having laterally extending feetmounted tol slide in said recesses, a shell secured to the body memberand extending over saidfeet to retain them in the recesses. said shellhaving an opening and the clamping elements having clamping'portionsextending through said openings, an insulating cord having leadsconnected to the binding posts, and means for clamping the clampingportions on opposite sides ofthe cord to secure them together.

3. In a device of the character described, an insulating body memberhaving an opening. binding posts carried by said member, a shell orcasing member enclosing the body member and having an opening inalignment with the opening in the body member, a pair of clampingelements having laterally extending feet between the body member andshell member and clamping portions adapted to engage an electricconductor cable or cord extending through said openings, means'on one ofthe members lforming guides for the feet to guide them for lateralreciprocation, means for clamping said portions on the cable orcord, andmeans for securing the shell to the body member."

4:. In a device of the character described, an insulating body memberhaving an opening and aligned recesses on opposite sides of saidopening. binding posts carried by said member, a pair of clampingelements having clamping portions and `feet extending at an angle tosaid portions and mounted to slide in said recesses, a shell enclosingthe body member and secured thereto, said shell having an opening forsaid clamping portions and arranged toI retain th feet in the recesses,and screws in said clamping portions to clamp them on opposite sides ofan electric conducting cable `or cord.

5. In a device of the character described, an insulating body member,binding posts carried thereby, said body having an opening leading tosaid posts, clamping elements having laterally extending vfeet, means onthe body member forming guides for said feet t0 guide them for lateralreciprocation, and a casingconnected to the body member and arranged tosecure said feet'to said member.

6. In a device of the character described, an insulating body member,binding posts carried thereby, clamping elements having laterallyextending feet, means on the body member forming guides for said feet toguide them for lateral reeiprocation, and a casing connected to the bodymember and arranged to secure said feet to said member.

7. In a device of the character described, an insulating body member,binding posts carried thereby, said body having an opening leading tosaid posts, clamping elements having laterally extending feet, and acasing member connected to the body member and arranged to secure saidfeet to said body member, one of said members having recesses to receivesaid feet and in which they are slidable to permit lateral movement ofthe clamping members toward and from each other.

8. In a device of the character described, a body member, binding postscarried by said member, a clamp comprising separate elements havinglateral extending feet, a casing member enclosing the body member andsecured thereto to secure said feet to said member. one'o'f said membersbeing provided with guides for saidfi'ieet and cooperating with the sideedges thereof to guide the clamping elements for movement Ytoward yandfrom each other and prevent their turning relative to said member, andmeans for clamp'- ing said elements on opposite sides of an feet aremounted to slide, said clamping ele- 10 electric conducting cable. mentshaving clamping portions adapted 9. In a device ofthe characterdescribed, an to be arranged on opposite sides of an ininsulating bodymember, binding posts carsulating cord having leads connected to the 5ried thereby, a pair of clamping elements binding posts, and means forclamping said having laterally extending feet, a shell memclampingportions on opposite sides of the 15 Aber secured to said body memberand extendcord. e ing over said feet, one of said members being Intestimony whereof I ailix m signature. provided with aligned recesses inwhich said HARVEY H BBELL.

